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Iron County, Michigan

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
39th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$13Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Iron County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,130 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Iron County

$10 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Hail

Moderate
$496,763 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh96.2
$10M
Inland floodingVery Low25.7
$2M
HailModerate74.8
$497K
Strong windLow26.7
$182K
TornadoVery Low17.7
$139K
LightningLow40.2
$115K
Winter weatherLow46.8
$41K
WildfireVery Low43.3
$23K
Heat waveVery Low9.9
$13K
DroughtVery Low24.7
$8K
Ice stormVery Low11.4
$4K
EarthquakeVery Low1.3
$879
LandslideVery Low17.4
$60

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Iron County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2002FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 176 storm reports in Iron County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $9.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 14, 1981.

9tornadoes
62hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
84damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 14, 1981F2–0 / 0
Aug 9, 2020EF1Crystal Falls Iron C0 / 0
Aug 15, 1978F1–2 / 0
Aug 9, 1958F1–0 / 0
Aug 9, 2020EF0Scott Lake0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 9, 2000HailIron River$4M
Apr 13, 2023FloodMichigamme Res$3M
Jul 9, 2020Flash FloodBasswood$1M
Apr 13, 2026FloodCrystal Falls Iron C$379K
Jul 14, 1999Flash FloodCaspian$225K
Aug 9, 2020Thunderstorm WindBasswood$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Iron County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Iron County

$109,100median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.8%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 9,156 housing units.

Compare in Michigan

All 83 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Wayne CountyHighInland flooding
Oakland CountyHighInland flooding
Macomb CountyHighInland flooding
Kent CountyModerateInland flooding
Genesee CountyModerateInland flooding
Washtenaw CountyModerateInland flooding
Ottawa CountyModerateInland flooding
Ingham CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Marquette CountyLow9
Houghton CountyVery Low7
Dickinson CountyLow3
Vilas County, WILow5
Gogebic CountyVery Low7
Forest County, WILow6
Baraga CountyVery Low5
Ontonagon CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Iron County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Iron County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Iron County, about $10 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Iron County had?

Iron County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Iron County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 39th highest of 83 in Michigan. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Iron County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Iron County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Iron County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 14, 1981. The weather service has also logged 62 hail reports and 10 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.